The groups highlighted State Route 25 in Middle Island, where civic organizations have sought agreement with NY State Department of Transportation for a pedestrian-friendly redesign of the road. The hamlet has seen three pedestrian deaths - a schoolchild, a teenager, and an elderly resident - in four years. Now, the groups have the best chance in a generation to win changes to the roadway, because the NY State DOT is reconstructing the highway. But the groups are concerned that DOT will significantly widen the road, making the pedestrian environment even worse.

NY State traffic fatality reports show that between 1990 and 1997, pedestrian deaths were over 25% of Nassau County traffic fatalities, and pedestrian deaths were more than 20% of all Suffolk county traffic fatalities. Suffolk County consistently ranks #1 in total traffic deaths in New York State.

Although NY State DOT's Long Island office has begun a variety of pedestrian and bicycling projects and initiatives, many of the projects do not address the worst pedestrian danger spots on the Island. An analysis by the Tri-State Campaign found that nearly all of the work specifically categorized as "safety" projects in DOT's Transportation Improvement Program address motorist safety or highway-railroad crossings.

Since December 1998, the Campaign has requested a meeting to discuss creation of a new Long Island pedestrian safety program from both DOT's Hauppauge office and Albany headquarters, but DOT has not scheduled the meeting.

Similarly, the Longwood Alliance and other organizations in Middle Island and Coram have tried to work with DOT on a pedestrian-friendly design for Middle County Road/Route 25, but have been largely rebuffed.

The Campaign spotlighted NYS DOT's traffic calming demonstration project on Route 114 in Sag Harbor and North Haven as a model that could be replicated on other arterial roadways like Route 25, but noted that it is time to get beyond the 'pilot' phase and make such projects a regular feature of the transportation program.

Changes to federal law made last summer made pedestrian safety and traffic calming projects eligible for a variety of federal funding programs. NY State DOT controls those funds once they reach New York.

The groups dedicated the press event to West Babylon resident Joseph Commisso, who was shot on Monday by a motorist he chastised for driving too fast through a school zone. "Like many Long Islanders, Mr. Commisso just wanted traffic safety and traffic sanity," said the Campaign's Amber Levofsky at the conference. "We applaud his willingness to stand up for the safety of children and to speak out against dangerous driving."